ALT

alanine transaminase

[al´ah-nēn trans-am´ĭ-nās]

an enzyme that catalyzes the reversible transfer of an amino group from alanine to α-ketoglutarate to form pyruvate and glutamate. Normally present in many tissues and body fluids, especially in the liver, it is released into the serum as a result of tissue injury; the serum concentration is increased particularly when there is acute damage to hepatic cells, as in viral or toxic hepatitis, infectious mononucleosis, and obstructive jaundice. Called also alanine aminotransferase and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase.

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